Thomas a



(No Model.)

T. A. MGGOVBRN.

KING BOLT PoR VEHICLES.

Patented Aug. 17, 1886.

UNITEDA STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS A. MOGOVERN, lOF BOLINAS, CALIFORNIA.

KING-BOLT FOR vEl-ucLEs.

y SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 347,435, dated August17, 1886.

Application filed December 18, i885. Serial No. 186,089. (No model.)

To all whom it may' concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS A. McGov- ERN, of Bolinas, Marin county,State of California, have invented an Improvement in King-Bolts forVehicles; and I hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, andefxact description of the same.

My invention relates to certain improvements in the running-gear ofvehicles; and it consists in an improved king-bolt and means forconnecting the front axle and the bolster, upon which the body of thevehicle rests.

Referring to the accompanying drawings for a more complete explanationof my invention, Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the front axle,the bolster, and m'y improved kingbolt. Fig. 2 isa front elevation, witha section taken through the central portion to show the king-bolt andits attachment.

In the ordinary construction of vehicles the-bolster is united to thefront axle by means of a kin g-bolt, which usually extends through bothbolster and axle, having a headabove the bolster and locking-nutsbeneath the axle to hold the two together. The sand-plates between thebolster and the axle run close together, so that in turning they rubupon each other, and as the different wheels of` the wagon pass over theirregularities in the surface considerablestrainand friction resultbetween these plates.

In my improvement, A is the front axlebed, and B the bolster. A plate,C, is xed upon the top of the axle-bed, and the king-.

bolt D screws down through this plate, projecting sufciently below theaxle to receive the lock-nuts by which its lower lend is held, while theupper end is securely held in the plate G by being screwed through it,as before described.

The head of the king-bolt is made in the y form of a ball, and projectsslightly above the plate C. Upon the lower part of the bolster aresecured two plates, E and F, each of which has a semi-spherical hollowcup formed upon it, so that when the two are placed together and boltedto the bolster they will hold the spherical head of the king-boltbetween them, the bolster being supported upon this head above and clearof the plate C on the top of the axle-bed. By this construction thebolster is allowed to have a universal movement around this joint, andthis is peculiarly advantageous to vehicles, and especially those whichhave two or more reaches, as it relieves them from all strain andtwisting incident upon the four wheels of the vehicle passing overirregularities in the surface of the ground. It will be seen by thisconstruction that the wheels may rise and fall, so that the front axlewill take various angles with relation to the bolster, the bed lof thevehicle, and the rear axle, without putting any strain upon these parts,and without bringing the plates intermediate between the bolster and theaxle-bed into contact.

By screwing the king-bolt through the plate upon the top of the axlebed,or through the axle, it may be adjusted so'as` to raise the bolster moreor less above the axle, and it also serves to prevent accidents in casethe nuts should become detached from the lower end of the king-bolt; orif the king-bolt should break at any point below where it screws intothe upper plate^there would be no possibility of the kingbolt coming outby reason of sudden jars or violent movement of the body on the springs.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, iS

1. The front axle of a vehicle having a metal plate upon the center ofits upper side, a king-bolt threaded so as to screw through this plate,and also having lock-nuts upon its lower end below the axle, the head ofsaid kingbolt being spherical,in combination with hemispherical socketssecured to the lower central portion of the bolster and inclosing thehead of the king-bolt, substantially as and for the purpose hereindescribed.

2. In a vehicle, the bolster having the two plates secured to its lowercentral portion, each plate having a hemispherical or cup-shaped socketfitted so as to inclose the spherical head of the king-bolt, incombination with a threaded king-bolt, an axle havinga screw-threadedplate through which the king-bolt passes, and in which it may beadjusted to raise or lower the head, substantiallyas herein described.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

THOMAS A. MCGOVERN.

Witnesses:

S. H. N oURsE, H. C. LEE.

IOO

